Expierence with using Pen Plotter for a Vinyl cutter?

[Michael Kennedy]

I was wondering if anybody has converted a pen plotter to a pen plotter
here? I've been thinking about getting a pen plotter for this.

- Mike

 

[Michael Kennedy]

LOL... oops.. I meant converted a pen plotter to a Vinyl cutter by replacing
one of the pins with a cutter.

- Mike

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

LOL... oops.. I meant converted a pen plotter to a Vinyl cutter by replacing
one of the pins with a cutter.

- Mike

And, Google was of no help to you?

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

LOL... oops.. I meant converted a pen plotter to a Vinyl cutter by replacing
one of the pins with a cutter.

I've done it. I just crammed in a swivel knife into the pen holder
and started cutting. No big deal except for making a knife mount
adapter. The biggest headache was the paper feed. The rock hard
rollers on the plotter would either slip on the smooth vinyl or leave
tread marks when I cranked up the pressure. I finally ended up
machining a set of replacement soft rubber rollers.

The nice thing about pen plotters is that nobody wants them in these
days of large inkjet plotters. I don't have any photos as I sold the
plotters for a handsome profit. Nice project for turning junk pen
plotters that nobody wants into $$$$$.

I gave up on steel blades as I was always sharpening them. Trying to
keep the tip centered was also a challenge when sharpening. I
switched to ceramic knife blades and never sharpened again. There's
also ruby blades, but they're expensive.

Google finds several articles on converting a pen plotter into a vinyl
cutter.

 

[Lee]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
The biggest headache was the paper feed. The rock hard

rollers on the plotter would either slip on the smooth vinyl or leave
tread marks when I cranked up the pressure. I finally ended up
machining a set of replacement soft rubber rollers.

If the rollers are rubber, clean with alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol) and
then wipe lightly with glycerin.
They will grip like hell, but won't stick
Regards
Lee in Toronto

Inviato da X-Privat.Org - Registrazione gratuita http://www.x-privat.org/join.php

 

[Michael Kennedy]

Yes it was, but I was wanting someone elses opinion...

Thanks for a useless post..

 

[Michael Kennedy]

If the rollers are rubber, clean with alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol) and

then wipe lightly with glycerin.
They will grip like hell, but won't stick
Regards
Lee in Toronto

Thanks for the tip.. That sound really usefull for more than just this
application..

- Mike

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
The biggest headache was the paper feed. The rock hard

If the rollers are rubber, clean with alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol) and
then wipe lightly with glycerin.
They will grip like hell, but won't stick

I also fix laser printers (as a sideline), which are full of rubber
rollers. I gave up on alcohols because they "dry" the rollers. The
glycerin is suppose to re-oil the rubber, but I find that it just sits
on the surface and doesn't last.

Instead, I use what I think is an acetone based "rubber restorer".
http://store.simplybargains.com/80008.html
One catch. I have to use it outdoors. The stuff REALLY stinks.

 

[Lee]

I also fix laser printers (as a sideline), which are full of rubber
rollers. I gave up on alcohols because they "dry" the rollers. The
glycerin is suppose to re-oil the rubber, but I find that it just sits
on the surface and doesn't last.

Instead, I use what I think is an acetone based "rubber restorer".
http://store.simplybargains.com/80008.html
One catch. I have to use it outdoors. The stuff REALLY stinks.

Glycerin will dry up from the heat in laser printers!
I use the rubber restorer as well and have to use in good ventilation
and with a mask because it will trigger an asthma attack, but that stuff
really works.

Regards
Lee in Toronto
Inviato da X-Privat.Org - Registrazione gratuita http://www.x-privat.org/join.php

 

[Mike Berger]

The good ones rotate the cutter along with the direction of the cut,
so many pen plotters can't be used for the purpose.

 

[isw]

The good ones rotate the cutter along with the direction of the cut,
so many pen plotters can't be used for the purpose.

X-Acto makes (or made) some "following cutter" blades, specifically for
cutting strippable film. I'll bet you could hack one of those to work in
a plotter.

Isaac

 

[David Nebenzahl]

Jeff Liebermann spake thus:

I also fix laser printers (as a sideline), which are full of rubber
rollers. I gave up on alcohols because they "dry" the rollers. The
glycerin is suppose to re-oil the rubber, but I find that it just sits
on the surface and doesn't last.

Instead, I use what I think is an acetone based "rubber restorer".
http://store.simplybargains.com/80008.html
One catch. I have to use it outdoors. The stuff REALLY stinks.

Yes; that same stuff is used by printers as "rubber rejuvenator".
Available at larger graphic-arts supply houses. And yes, it has all
kinds of nasty shit in it that you really don't want to breathe. But it
works wonders on rubber rollers and offset blankets. I used to use it to
remove caked, dried ink from rollers and make them look (and work) like new.


--
Any system of knowledge that is capable of listing films in order of
use of the word "****" is incapable of writing a good summary and analysis
of the Philippine-American War. And vice-versa. This is an inviolable rule.

- Matthew White, referring to Wikipedia on his WikiWatch site
(http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/wikiwoo.htm)

 

[Mike Berger]

I doubt they'd work with much precision or last long -- especially
if you cut reflective vinyl with glass or metal particles embedded.
You can sharpen most commercial blades, so the cost of the blade
doesn't have to be a serious issue.